City Administrator

City of Wyoming, MN

City Administrator

Education

M.S.
,
Public Administration

City Administrator Craig Mattson proposed scheduling the election for the same day as the primary election date.
Councilwoman Linda Yeager also preferred having the special election as part of a primary or general election date.
She would rather maximize turnout and save some election costs.

City Administrator Craig Mattson said Wyoming officials and staff approach budgeting based on priorities of service.
Uncontrollable variables like fuel prices and weather can affect budgets and require cutting in other areas.

Some residents questioned why their taxes increased when the levy is the same.
Mattson explained that the Chisago County Auditor determines tax bills and the formulas are complicated.

Polaris and Xccent will begin paying more commercial taxes into city coffers in 2017.
Mattson and Mayor Eric Peterson estimate this amount will be about $250,000 to $300,000 a year.

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Mattson said the city cannot count on local government aid, which may be taken away by the state Legislature.

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With the increase in size of the city, Mattson said, it costs more for almost every service.

Under the terms of the merger, former township residents were eased into the urban tax structure, Mattson explained, unlike what happened when portions of the township were annexed by Chisago City earlier.
Township residents were taxed at 50 percent of the city tax rate for the first three years after the merger, 60 percent in the fourth year, and 70 percent in the fifth year.